Kenneth Guarino founded Capital Video in 1979. The company claims it is “the largest adult retail chain in the nation.” While Guarino presumably still enjoys the profits from his porn shops and adult movie studio (Metro), exploiting women and men sexually and blighting communities appear to have become boring. Even as early as 1994, Guarino told The Wall Street Journal, “[Watching porn is] like selling doughnuts. After a week or two you aren’t going to want to eat any more doughnuts.”

StrongHeart Pictures LLC. is a start-up management/production company based in Cranston, Rhode Island. Founded in 2006 by Ken Guarino, it’s mission is to produce independent films – bringing ‘fringe’ and emerging directors and artists to a wider national audience. Strongheart Pictures is designed to facilitate the development, funding, production and distribution of these films.

In 2006 the company invested in the soon to be released film “Brooklyn Rules.” [See review] Set in Brooklyn, circa 1985, against the backdrop of John Gotti’s rise to Mafia power, “Brooklyn Rules” is a powerful story revolving around three lifelong friends whose different ambitions threaten to shake their enduring bond. Starring Alec Baldwin, Freddie Prinze Jr, Mena Suvari, Scott Caan and Jerry Ferrara, and scripted by “Sopranos” Emmy winning writer, Terrence Winters. “Brooklyn Rules” comes down to the choices faced by these young men when the right path is not always the easiest to follow, and when being a loyal friend can mean making the ultimate sacrifice.

In April of 2006 the company dramatically expanded its focus and began production of its first feature film, “The Education of Charlie Banks”. [See review] The film marks the directing debut of Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst and stars Jesse Eisenberg, Jason Ritter, Eva Amurri, Chris Marquette, and Sebastian Stan. It premieres at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival which takes place in New York City from April 25 to May 6, 2007. The movie is a coming of age tale that spans from the playgrounds of lower Manhattan to the idyllic greens of Vasser College. Set during the eighties, it is a story about change, inevitability, and mostly, about facing ones’ fears. Strongheart Pictures expects a fall 2007 theatrical release.

Strongheart Pictures is currently in development on many projects and is in pre production on a made-for-cable documentary about famed pianist Roger Williams, highlighting the life and music of the multi award winning composer. A second made-for-cable documentary is nearing pre production and the announcement of Strongheart Picture’s next feature film will be made summer 2007.

Judging from the trailers for “Brooklyn Rules”, it appears Guarino has traded in some of the sex from his porn films in favor of violence, violence being more respectable these days. Here are the bios Strongheart gives for Guarino and Lesley Rich, Capital Video general counsel. You’ll notice these have been scrubbed of all mention of porn or adult enterprises:

Ken Guarino – CEOKen Guarino has over 40 years of diversified management experience. He has owned, operated and financed many businesses, including retail operations, restaurants, print and film media production companies, warehousing and distribution operations and real estate ventures. Ken is the driving force behind Strongheart Pictures, and has provided the financial resources and expertise required in the highly competitive motion picture production business. Ken has experienced the challenges and demands required to make a good film, as he did in making “The Education Of Charlie Banks”.

The balancing act of budgets and artistic freedom is challenging, and stimulating. Unlike most successful entrepreneurs, his expertise lies not only in developing and creating ideas, but the vision to create a business strategy, attract A-list talent, and shepard the project to it’s completion.

Lesley S. Rich, Esq. – CFOLesley Rich is the General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer of Strongheart Pictures. With over 34 years experience in managing diversified businesses, Les is a results-oriented leader handling all issues with respect to strategic/tactical legal and tax planning, business operations, financial operations, and business administration. He received his J.D. Degree from Roger Williams University, and a M.S. and B.S. in Accounting from the University of Rhode Island.

Les is responsible for all legal, tax and administrative functions of the company. His knowledge of contract law and all the legalities of production are crucial to Strongheart Pictures strength.

The bios neglect to mention how Guarino and Rich have long experience producing and/or selling such “good films” as:

According to one reviewer, the theme of Charlie Banks is “Can people really change? Will society allow them to?” We say to Guarino and Rich, “Absolutely. Shut down Capital Video and your other adult enterprises.”

Guarino, who entered the business as a teenager, had risen to become one of the nation’s top pornography dealers in less than 10 years. His companies were grossing an estimated $3 million a year, and every month Guarino was depositing an average of $175,000 into their bank accounts…

A few things have changed for Guarino since the mid-1970s… One of his closest associates was killed under mysterious circumstances when he fell out of a moving car…

…Guarino has been tried and convicted on federal charges for interstate distribution of obscene materials (he has appealed), and he has been indicted for income-tax evasion, as well as distribution of pornographic material involving children…

Capital Video Owner Kenneth Guarino “was associated with Natale Richichi, a capo in the Gambino family of La Cosa Nostra”In 1979, Kenneth Guarino created and incorporated Capital Video Corporation, located in Cranston, Rhode Island; Guarino was the sole shareholder. Capital Video was a distributor of pornographic videotapes. Guarino was associated with Natale Richichi, a capo in the Gambino family of La Cosa Nostra, who dealt directly with the bosses of both the Gambino and Patriarca families and had influence with other factions of La Cosa Nostra. Guarino was concerned that members of other organized crime families would extort money from, or take over, his multimillion dollar business. He also worried that organized crime would interfere with his other business ventures, including a show at the Dunes Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, called “Night Dreams,” and a precious metals business in the New England area.

Guarino in 1979 began to pay ‘tribute’ to Richichi to fend off extortion attempts and to assist Guarino with other business matters where Richichi’s influence as a capo might benefit Guarino… The total amount of the payments is in dispute, but between July 1985 and September 1995, Guarino paid Richichi at least $1,728,000 in cash…

In January 1997, Guarino, as part of a plea agreement, pled guilty only to the charge of conspiracy to evade taxes. He was sentenced to sixteen months in prison, eleven of which were served in a halfway house, and fined $250,000…

Testimony in Los Angeles: Peter Bogdanovich on Porn and HollywoodThe pornographers and their supporters are so powerful, and the connection between the pornography industry and the legitimate entertainment industry is so intimate, that directors and producers and writers and creative people of all kinds do not feel able to take a stand against pornography because they’re going to be blackmailed by legitimate studios, distribution houses, etc. Some say, “Just wait till I get this distributed, then I’ll be free to go down and tell you what I know,” or “I’m waiting to sell a TV show…” The real story is that people are intimidated out of speaking by those in power over their lives…

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NoPornNorthampton aims to increase awareness about the impact of porn on people and communities. We support the reasonable regulation of sexually oriented businesses in Northampton, Massachusetts and elsewhere. We ask businesspeople to balance profits with compassion. We do not advocate increasing government censorship of porn. For our positive vision of sexuality, visit GreenSexuality.com.